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Sebastien Fauteux does more than just dismiss the idea that big, bold design elements overwhelm small spaces.

Fauteux insists, in fact, that they are the key to adding drama, depth and definition to homes with tiny footprints.

“People really need to put aside preconceived notions about scale, colours and style when living in a small space,” says Fauteux.

His design skills for areas with limited room were showcased recently at the 2014 Interior Design Show where, as the creative director for Urban Barn, his small-space vignettes were on display.

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There, he cleverly used strong colours — including trendy Maritime blues — along with crisp geometric patterns and textured fabrics to fashion an open, airy space with lots of layers and tons of visual interest.

Fauteux applied the same rules to his own Vancouver home, a skinny 1,000-square-foot, three-level townhouse with a roof-top terrace. His friends jokingly refer to it as “a grown man’s tree house.”

Throughout his home, Fauteux has used both colour and dramatic finishes with confidence.

“A case is point is the graphic wallpaper in my den, or better yet, my budgie painting,” says Fauteux, referring to an over-sized, silver-farmed print that hangs in the main floor of his home.

While the dominant wall colour is a soft blue that reads warm grey at night, Fauteux has made liberal use of mirrored walls, installing them floor to ceiling in several rooms when he moved into the townhouse in late 2009.

Reflective surfaces enhance light, and add to a sense of airiness — both essential elements in small space design, says Fauteux.

“Using mirrors wisely not only creates an illusion of grandeur, it’s also a great way to illuminate a space,” he says. “I decided to go all the way: wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling mirrors as my feature walls on each floor.”

In the guest bedroom, a white leather bed is paired with mirrored nightstands.

“They totally blend in with the mirror wall,” says Fauteux. “It’s so simple, yet so effective.”

When natural light doesn’t do the trick, Fauteux opts for multiple fixtures, suggesting that well-chosen overhead, table and floor lamps can do double duty, by both providing task lighting and acting as “jewellery.”

Similarly, he’s a fan of multi-functional furniture.

“Everything should have a dual purpose. Think of an ottoman that doubles as a storage chest, a pouf that serves as a footstool or extra seating, dining tables with extensions, nesting tables and sofa beds,” says Fauteux.

Using see-through furnishings, whether acrylic or glass, is another of his top tips for small rooms.

“They are design classics and give the illusion that you have much more space than you do. If it’s clear, it disappears!”

He also recommends choosing furniture with dainty legs, rather than pieces that sit directly on the floor. He suggests that shelves and bookcases that are vertically oriented add to a feeling of height, as do window treatments that are hung close to the ceiling.

Another space-saving option that improves room flow is pocket doors, of which Fauteux has been a fan for as long as he can remember. “They are so genius. Talk about making the most out of nothing,” he says.

Rather than crowding small spaces, as many homeowners believe, one or two well-selected larger pieces can make a space look bigger than it would with several separate items, says Fauteux. But scale is key, which is why he often recommends custom pieces for apartments and condos.

“If there was ever a time when you should invest in custom furniture, it’s when designing a small space,” he says, pointing out that some retailers, including Urban Barn, have custom sofa and chair programs, and staff on hand to help determine correct sizing.

Knowing what area rug to use in a small space seems to present a special challenge for those in smaller homes, says Fauteux.

“The goal is to use a rug that contains colours in the room you want to emphasize,” he advises.

Lastly, Fauteux cautions homeowners not to take too much to heart the oft-repeated design advice to strip small spaces down to the barest of essentials.

“Living in a small space does not have to be synonymous with purging,” he says. “That’s an ugly word. Think of editing. It sounds better and feels better. Keep the good stuff — the stuff that you need or that means something to you.”

But there’s one rule that he insists should remain top of mind for all small space dwellers who want rooms to look bigger and feel more open.

“The real secret is not a secret. Keep your house in order and keep it clean.”

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